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Known as Hell's Half Acre in the glory days of the Old West, downtown Fort Worth was a hangout for outlaws, cattlemen, cowboys, gamblers and other "legends" of the Old West - Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, even Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Today, downtown Fort Worth has preserved the architecture and rich heritage of Fort Worth's colorful past through the development of Sundance Square, a 35-block collection of graciously restored and replicated turn-of-the-century storefronts, appointed with colorful landscaping and brick-paved streets.
This area includes some of Fort Worth's oldest and architectually unique structures, which now house some 50 shops, restaurants, theatres, bars and clubs, all within walking distance of each other. Many of these buildings date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s and bear historical plaques and markers. They are:
The Plaza Hotel, 301 Main St., was built in 1908 by Winfield Scott, one of Fort Worth's leading citizens. Cited as the best remaining example in Fort Worth of a small "cattle-era" hotel, the building is home to Mercury Chop House and Cowtown Diner.
The Sid Richardson Building, 309 Main St., dates back to 1895. Fire gutted the original structure, but in 1905, its original components were used in reconstruction. The building was remodeled in 2007 and features the Sid Richardson Museum and Gift Shop.
The Domino Building, 311 Main St., is an exact replica of "Buck's Domino Parlor," a popular gaming house. The original building was constructed in 1900.
The Knights of Pythias Hall, 327 Main St., was constructed in 1881 as the first Pythian Temple erected in the world and the only one with a cornerstone laid by Justus H. Rathbone, founder of the order. The building is now home to 8.0 Restaurant & Bar, and Haltom's Jewelers.
The Land Title Building at Commerce and Fourth Street, is one of the oldest buildings in Fort Worth. Built in 1889, the building was designed by Fort Worth architect Marshall R. Sanguinet and is decorated with an owl, sandstone and stained glass windows. The current tenant, The Flying Saucer Beer Emporium, retained much of the original architectural flavor of the building during renovation.
The Burk Burnett Building at 500 Main St. was Fort Worth's first true skyscraper. The 12-story building, built in 1914 and restored in 1980, is on the National Historic Register. Worthington National Bank is located on the ground level.
The Jett Building, 400 Main St., was completed in 1907, closely resembling Frank Lloyd Wright's Larkin Building. "The Chisholm Trail" is a trompe l'oeil mural created by Richard Haas that spans the building's southern façade, and commemorates the Fort Worth segment of the Chisholm Trail cattle drives of 1867-1875. The building is home to 95.9 The Ranch and Jamba Juice.
The Conn Building, 310 Main St., was built in 1906. Luke Short, owner of the White Elephant Saloon, shot and killed former City Marshall T.I. "Long Haired Jim" Courtwright in a gunfight just yards from the door of the building.
The Morris Building, 306-308 Main St., was built in 1900 and is the original site of the White Elephant Saloon. Luke Short, owner of this notorious watering hole, shot and killed former City Marshall T.I. "Long Haired" Jim Courtwright in a gunfight in the street in front of this building.
The Weber Building, 300-302 Main St., dates back to 1880 and is one of Fort Worth's oldest structures. Riscky's Barbecue is the sole tenant in the Weber.
The Western Union Telegraph Building, 314-318 Main on the corner of Third and Main St., served as Western Union's area headquarters for 50 years. Razzoo's Cajun Café and the Texas Rangers Team Shop are located on the street level of this building, with offices on the top floor.
The City National Bank Building, on Houston between Second and Third St., was built as a four-story building in 1886. The top floor was removed in the early 1900s and later restored with "original" bricks from St. Louis. Two restaurants - Billy Miner's Saloon and Cabo Grande - occupy this building.
The Sanger Building, 410 Houston St., was constructed in 1929 and once housed the first department store to be air-conditioned west of the Mississippi. Leddy's Ranch at Sundance is located on the ground floor. The top five floors feature 59 loft apartments in Sanger Lofts at Sundance Square.
The Woolworth Building, 501 Houston St., was built in 1926 and housed the F.W. Woolworth Company to 1990. The three-story building is an Art Deco Neoclassical Revival design by Wiley G. Clarkson, head of one of the largest architectural firms in Fort Worth from the 1920s through the 1940s. Current tenants include Scat Jazz Lounge, Simply Fondue, Jos. A. Bank and Milan Art Gallery.
What once was a decaying urban area has been showcased in the Wall Street Journal, Town & Country, Southern Living and Historic Preservation. In addition, the City of Fort Worth received the National League of Cities James Howland Award for Urban Enrichment for the transformation that has taken place in the city's central business district.
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